Beyoncé once cited the hit reality competition series Survivor as a significant inspiration for Destiny’s Child’s 2001 hit of the same name—an award-winning track that almost landed the trio in court. But it wasn’t the makers of Survivor or its many participants who sued the group. It was former Destiny’s Child members LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson.
Videos by American Songwriter
The ex-members claimed “Survivor” was clearly about them and, as such, was in violation of a previous settlement that determined neither former nor existing Destiny’s Child members could disparage the other. You thought I wouldn’t sell with you, sold 9 million, was a key piece of lyrical evidence for the plaintiffs.
A Hit Song Born From A Highly Publicized Band Breakup
The collective zeitgeist has all but erased the iterations of Destiny’s Child that preceded the trio of Beyoncé, Michelle Williams, and Kelly Rowland that we know them as today. However, there were other members of this iconic R&B group. The original lineup included Knowles, Rowland, LaTavia Roberson, and LeToya Tuckett. Interpersonal conflict led to Roberson and Tuckett leaving the group, after which Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin replaced them. Franklin left shortly after, too, leaving the final lineup as Knowles, Rowland, and Williams.
In an interview with MTV News, Knowles explained how the band heard about the press comparing their group to the competition television series, Survivor. “It was a joke, but it was actually cute, and it inspired me to write a song,” she said. “I was like, you know, we can use that negative thing and turn it into a positive thing.”
“Survivor” was one of the first songs the group wrote as a trio. “We were a little nervous recording the next album because so many people were like, ‘What are you going to do to top The Writing’s on the Wall [the group’s second album from 1999]? We went into the studio. And we didn’t even worry about The Writing’s on the Wall. We went in and prayed, and we put our best foot forward and got “Survivor,”” Rowland recalled to Billboard in 2001.
“Words can’t describe how we felt when we recorded that song,” Williams added. “Some of us were crying. Others were jumping up and down.”
Destiny’s Child Narrowly Avoids Court Over Hit Song
“Survivor” was a smash hit for Destiny’s Child, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. But when former band members LeToya Tuckett and LaTavia Roberson heard lines like, Thought I wouldn’t grow without you, now I’m wiser, thought that I’d be helpless without you, but I’m smarter. You thought that I’d be stressed without you, but I’m chillin. You thought I wouldn’t sell without you, sold nine million, they sued their ex-bandmates for “breach of contract, defamation, libel, and fraud, per Billboard.
Upon filing of the lawsuit, Destiny’s Child’s attorney, Tom Fulkerson, told the Houston Chronicle, “It’s unfortunate that the plaintiffs have nothing better to do with their time than to dream up new lawsuits to file. We made a settlement agreement that we knew put things to bed, yet here we are again.”
On July 25, 2002, the parties settled out of court on undisclosed terms, leaving the rest of us to continue belting out “Survivor” about our ex-partners, ex-best friends, estranged family members, terrible bosses, and, yes, even ex-bandmates.
Photo by Tim Roney/Getty Images
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.